A Nanotech-Powered AIDS-Killing Condom is Closer than Ever

Correctly used, condoms do a damn good job of preventing STDs (and pregnancy!). But nobody's gonna say no to an improvement that ups those odds. Say, a condom coated in antiviral gel that kills up to 99.9 per cent of HIV, genital herpes, and human papillomavirus.

The key component here is VivaGel, an antiviral gel powered by nanotechnology. The gel's active ingredient is millions and millions of nano-sized molecules. These perfectly symmetrical 3D branching structures attach onto viruses like HIV, HPV, or the virus that causes genital herpes, preventing them from binding to human cells. No binding, no infection.

VivaGel molecule, drawn in blue and red, bound to an HIV virus's surface receptors, shown in yellow. Image by Starpharma.

Hopefully, this move will open up other markets to approve ViviGel-equipped barrier devices. Last week, Starpharma announced that both the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency approved phase-3 clinical trials of ViviGel. Those trials will study the drug's effectiveness in treating bacterial vaginosis, rather than a condom ingredient, since a double-blind placebo trial involving the potential transmission of HIV would be the definition of unethical.

You should already be using protection when you have sex. But soon, once HIV-killing condoms hit the market, you'll have even fewer excuses not to. [Daily Mail via Chip Chick]